Hurling Mini All Ireland Finals

With the delicious smells from the BBQ wafting through the Kilmacud air on a glorious summer evening, over 500 young hurlers and their enthusiastic supporters descended on the pitch in Glenalbyn last Friday evening for the Finals Night of the 2017 Kilmacud Crokes Mini All- Ireland Series.

The sense of anticipation was palpable as, in turn throughout the evening, each of the teams from Under 6 to Under 12 proudly lined up to parade onto the field behind the piper to contest their final game of the week-long hurling marathon. During the course of the week 140 matches were played throughout all the age groups to arrive at the final pairings. Old rivalries were re-ignited and new friendships forged both on and off the pitch as each player gave it their all for their newly-adopted county team.

The event was truly led and driven by the youth of our club. The 16 referees, drawn from the ranks of our Under 14, 15 and 16 Camogie and Hurling Teams, ensured that each match was played in a fair manner. The teams were organised, managed and motivated by 92 young managers. Match strategy was debated, positions rotated and encouragement offered irrespective of the result. Their parents and the club should be justifiably proud of the leadership displayed by our young members who are an excellent example to their peers and to the younger age groups.

The magnitude of the event was made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors:
- Bank of Ireland, Main Sponsor provided the individual t-shirts for each boy and the 502 sliotars which were presented as prizes to everyone who competed;
- Clayton Hotel, Leopardstown sponsored the burgers and numerous spot prizes
- Spirit Motor Group, supporters of Kilmacud Crokes and the Mini All Irelands, sponsored the face painting and car stickers.

Not forgetting the continuing support of the numerous parents who volunteered their time by distributing t-shirts, managing traffic flow, barbequing hundreds of burgers, moving goalposts…the jobs were many and all were done in a willing spirit that goes to the heart of the club’s ethos.
A week that will live long in the memory of Kilmacud Crokes’ young hurlers!